Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-09-29
SORGHUM SUGAR.
Successful OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
sioner Colman Satisfied
with the Results.


cut into chips and passed intoa battery
of twelve cells, each holding ton of
chips. Hot water is then applied,
which rapidly exhausts the saccharine
matter and so thoroughly that there is
scarcely trace of it left. The cells
are entirely practical, being speedily
filled, manipulated and emptied, one
man attending the entire operation.
The process is as rapid as the old meth
cd, less costly, and enables the rmanu-
facturer to secure and utilize all the
Juice instead of about half as hereto
fore. Similar experiments were made
last year, but the cutters, machinery,
and the method were all new, and diff
culties occurred which could not be
overcome at once. Some $4,000 pounds
of sugar were. however. made last year
though the experiments were con-
sidered failure
COMMISSIONER COLMAN'S OPINION.
The commissioner said: Having
had more time and the experience of
last year to guide us, 1 am more than
pleased to be able to say that all the
difficulties seem to have been overcome
and no fiour-mill is more surely turn
ing out its quota of flour than is the
Parkinson Sugar-WorkS at Fort Scott,
Kan, turning out its quota of sugar
to-day-and sugar of the best quality,
polarlZing 1889 degrees. The mill is
capable of working up every twenty
hours 100 tons of cane, making there
from $4,000 pounds of sugar, or more.
From the first swinging in the centrif-
ugals, from 100 to lis pounds of sugar
per ton of cane were obtained and
about twenty pounds more are expect
ed from the second swinging. a yield Of
from ten to fifteen tons of cane per
acre was being secured, which would
produce by this new process from l 200
to 800 pounds of sugar. This sugar
is worth by the car load SIC per pound.
[ left there after the first weeks work,
and it was estimated that over 100000
pounds OF sugar had already been made.
The sugar was there to be seen by
everybody, too.
''Nor is this all. To every ton of
cane, aside from the sugar in it. there
are some ten or twelve gallons of mo-
lasses. and also the seed raised upon
the cane, amounting to about twenty
five bushels per acre, and just as good
for feeding all kinds of stock as Indian
corn. Indeed, the seed, it is estimated,
will pay for raising the cane, which is
a merit possessed by no other sugar
plant. The people of Fort Scott, after
the first weeks successful working OF
the factory, were carried away with
enthusiasm. The Board of Trade call
ed public meeting and filled one of
the largest halls in the city, where con-
gratulatOry speeches were made, fol-
lowed by a banquet, and there was
general rejoicing throughout theNcity.H
1.-The department is also conducting
experiments at Rio Grand, n. j., with
the same process, and [ have just re-
ceived telegram from our superintan-
dent, who says: AS nearly as can be
estimated from the maSecute in the hot
room, the first acre of cane will yield
about 1,100 pounds of crystalllzed
sugar
BENEFICIAL RESULTS TO FOLLOW.
''The results of these experiments
upon the country will, / believe, be
most beneficial. Our nation is paying
500, 600, 600 annually to the sugar pro-
ducerS of other countries, and il we
have demonstrated that we can profit
ably produce sugar on OurIoWn farms.
it is matter of the highest Importance
to the country. 1t viii not only keep
this money at home, but Will save to
OUT people So, 000.0 600 annually in Gus
toms duties. Col. Parkinson, the man
ager at Fort Scott, would have been
satisfied with IS pounds of crystalized
sugar per ton and with the seed and
mOlasseS at present prices would have
run his factory at Il profit, but now
when he comes to get at least 80 pounds
more per ton his enthusiasm is very
great.
Il cannot see why our people should
not 60 to making sugar. \ complete
sugar factory will cost about as much
as Il fiouring-mill, and can be run at
great profit according to the present
experiments. Farmers are glad to
raise the cane at 50 per ton. and at
that it pays better than other farm
products. There is an overproductlon
of most farm crops, making prices ruin
ously low, and if this new industry
will employ a portion of those now
raising other things at no profit, 1t Will
give great relief to the farming classes
and open a most promising field for
both farmer and manufac ;'rer. The
annual consumption of sug per capt.
ia is about 40 pounds. On population
is doubling every twenty ears. At
the end Of the next twent. re years
we will be paying at lee 2OU, eco for
sugar per year. This ley we can
keep at home and ibute among
our own people. l loci upon these ex-
periments as important to this country
as the invention of the cotton gin.
They have demonstrated that we have
sugar plant that can be grown and
| converted proftably into sugar south
of the seth parallel (ont of the reach OF